Cutting mechanism for axminster looms



E. J. DACEY CUTTING A-MEcJHANIsv/l FOR AXMINSTER LooMs Filed Dec. 26. 1941 TVI l I I i *nlf 1 Ii I l s i l l l I 1 l l I i :L l i l 5 l i I L;

INVEN-ron EowAnnIDActY Dec. 22,- 1942.

AT1-onu Patented Der.. 22, 1942 UNHTED ST ,rear OFFICE CUTTNG MECHANISM FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Application December 26, 1941, Serial No. 424,458 5 claims.: (C1. 13e- 2) This invention relates to improvementsin AX- minster looms and it is the general object lof the invention to employ a tuft yarn cutting mechanism so constructed as to prevent an accumulation of lint in certain parts of the loom.

Axminster looms operate with a series of tubev frames which are presented one at a time to tuft forming position. The yarns are projected through the warp shed and are then bent up and rearwardly to form tufts, after which cuttingV mechanism severs the tufts from the yarns car -ried by the tube frame. In a type of Axminster loom which has gone into common use it is customary to employ a notched or toothed cloth or nose board which assists in the formation of f tufts. This board comprises a plate from the rear edge of which project vertical teeth separated by slots into which move the dents of the kreed and also guide plates which cooperate with the reed dents to form guide aisles for the tuft yarns when the latter are being bent to form the tufts.

As heretofore constructed the cutting mechanism on such looms has comprised front and back blades which are normally separated during the.

tuft forming operation but which move toward the tube frame during the cutting operation. It is usual to move the front or ledger knife rearwardly to a position close to the tuft yarns and hold it stationary in that position while the rear knife is moved forwardlyv and under the front knife to cut the row of tufts from the tube frame. During the cutting operation considerable lint is formed whichV has a tendency to fall into the slots between the teeth of the nose board and interfere with the operation of the reed dents and guide plates. While the rear knife moves forwardly the short ends of the yarn and other lint fall on it and is carried rearwardly as the knife recedes. After the knife has reached a position behind the teeth of the nose board and the fell of the cloth the lint on the back knife falls off onto the nose board teeth and the shed from which positions it is carried into the slots by the reed when advancing. tion of the loom it is desirable to have the back or cutting knife move under the front knife and it is for this reason that the lint accumulates on the cutting knife.

It is an important object of my present invention to reverse the operation of the cutting blades and move the rear blade forwardly to a temporarily stationary position after which the front knife moves toward and underthe rear knife to cui-I the tufts and the yarns extending Because of the construc-` from-the tube frame. The cutting occurs over the fell of the cloth and slightly in front of the exposed part of the teeth behind the fabric, but after cutting the lint which accumulates on the knife moves forwardly with the latter and in falling off the front knife is deposited on the cloth a considerable distance in front of the teeth of the nose board and the binders of the warp shed. In this way the lint released during the cutting operation is kept away from the slots through which the reed dents and guide plates move.

Prior to cutting the yarns which project from the tube frame extend downwardly and are then curved rearwardly and upwardly to present a short strand on the rear part of the tuft. When a front knife'is used the rearwardly directed cutting force has a tendency to bend the rear strand of the tufts out of cutting position, resulting in the formation of rows the pile tufts of which are of uneven height. It is a further object of my present invention to provide the teeth of the nose board with upstanding hooks along which the rear strands -of the tufts extend for support during the cutting operation. The hooks on the cloth board project upwardly toward the `rear temporarily stationary knife and prevent the rear strands of the tufts yfrom moving out of cutting position.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodimentl of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through part of an Axminster loom having my .invention applied thereto with the cutters separated and the tube frame in tuft forming position,

Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of Fig. 1, showing the tuft bent to cutting position and the back or ledger knife in its temporarily advanced stationary position,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the front knife passing under the rear knife to cut the tufts from the tube frame, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the relationship of the parts as the front knife moves forwardly.

Referring to the drawing, the loom frame l0 supports a lay shaft il on which is mounted a reed R between the dents of which the binder warps forming the top and bottom sheds W and W respectively, extend to the woven fabric. By

means of a connector I2 the lay is advanced to move the reed forwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 every beat of the loom. A weft laying needle N is projected into the warp shed when the reed is in rear position to insert a double pick of filling and is then retracted to permit beat-up of the reed.

A bracket I5 secured to the loom frame supports a cloth board I5 having a plate or body I1 from the rear edge of which projects a series of vertical teeth I8. These teeth are separated by slots I9 and are each formed with a rear curved surface which cooperates with the yarn Y projecting from the tube frame T to form tufts as the reed advances and moves into the slots I9.

A carriage 25 having pivotal support .as at 25 has mounted thereon a series of guide plates 21 which align with the reed .dents andare normally located in front of the teeth I8. .By means of a rod 28 the plates 21 are moved rearwardly `on each tuft forming operation of the loom to deneguide. aisles with the reedgdents, after which said plates move forwardly with the reed.

The tube frame may be mounted on customary transfer arms 30 by means of which it is detached from the tube frame, moved to the tuft forming position shown in Fig. 1, raised preparatory to cutting, and then returned to the chains. While theV tube frame is in tuft forming position it isgiven the customary rolling-in movements which assist in the forming of tufts. At the; end of .the tuft forming operation the yarn Y has the shape shown in Fig. 2 with a rear short upright strand S.

In theoperation of the mechanism `thus. far

described the tube framewill be dipped. and; the

p1ates21 .moved rearwardly for .each-tuft; forming oper-ation and the reedand plate 21 will move forwardly so that the yarns Y will be guided up the curved surfaces 20 and over hooks 33 formed .on the teeth I 8 and projecting above the top .surface 34 of the plate I6 on which the woven fabric rests. The construction set forth may be of the usualconstruction and for a further understanding of the structure and operation thereof reference maybe had to prior Patent No. 1,958,129.

As heretofore stated it has been `customary tocut .the tuft from the yarns Y by means of frontand back cutters the rear of which moves under the temporarily stationary front knife during the cutting operation. In my present invention I reverse this operation and provide for mounting the cutting blade in front of the tufts.

InFig. l I have shown one convenient means for supporting Iand operating the front knife including a vbracket bolted to the loom frame and having mounted thereon a guide block 4I provided with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined guide slot 42. Positioning screws 43 are used to determinethe vertical position of the blockl @I with respect to the bracket 4I) and bolts @..4 hold the block 4I to the bracketf. A relatively large knife bar 51 of angular section as shown at the left hand part of Fig. 1 has a shoe 48 to extend into and be guided by slot 42. The lowerend of the bar is connected as by a head 49 to a 1in-k 50 the rear end of which isconnected to an operating lever 5I. The latter is mounted on a heavy shaft 52 and is connected to the rod 53 extending to suitable mechanism for the purpose of reciprocating the bar 41 with respect to the guide block 4I Secured to the under side of the bar 41 is the edge 11 of the ledger blade.

the front knife 55 held to the bar by bolts 56 and having a projecting rear cutting edge 51. Under normal conditions the lever 5I is in its left hand or forward position with the cutting edge 51 spaced forwardly from and out of interfering position with respect to the tube frame when the latter is in tuft forming position.

Similar mechanism for the rear or ledger knife comprises a bracket 6I) secured to the loom frame andrhaving a guide block 6I secured thereto by bolts 62 and vertically adjustable thereon by .bolts 53. The rear knife bar 64 is of angle sec- -tion and is connected by means of a rod head 55 to a rearwardly extending rod 65 attached to the upper end of an operating lever 51. The bar Vflis provided with a shoe 58 which fits into a guide slot 69 formed in the block 6I. Secured to the .under forward side of the bar 64 is a cutterA or ledger blade 15 held to the bar by bolts 16. The ledger blade has a front cutting edge 11 to cooperate with the rear edge 51 ofthe front knife.

Under normal conditions the knives are separated as shown in Fig. 1 but after the tube frame has had its tuft forming motions and the tuft is of the shape shown in Fig. 2, lever 61 will be moved forwardly to cause the bar 54 to advance Vuntil the cutting edge 11 of the rear knife lies close to the yarn Y over the hooks 33. Motion of lever 51 is then arrested and the back knife is held in this position. Thereafter, lever 5I moves rearwardly, or to the right as viewed yin Fig. 1, to move the front bar 'I1 backwardly to cause cutting cooperation between the two blades, The front knife advances from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown. in Fig. .3

.while the rear knife 15 is held stationary and the cutting edge 51 of the movablefront. knife moves to a position to the right of, or behind, The tufts are thus out from the yarn Y and in the cutting operation any lint or the like which is released falls onthe top of the front knife as indicated at L. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the cutting occurs substantially over the fell of the cloth and that the cloth extends forwardly from this point covering those portions of the slots I9 unvder it.

After the cutting operation is completed the front knife is moved forwardly from its full line position shown in Fig. 4 tothe dotted line thereof and the lint is carried forwardly by the front knife to a position in front of the .fell of the cloth and over the woven fabric. If the lint should fall from the cutter blade 55 or be purposely dislodged by the` operator it will fall onto the cloth and will not fall into the slots I9.

It will be noted that during the cutting operation the hooks 33 extend upwardly along and behind ,the rear strands S of the tufts being formed to support and hold. them in position for cutting. This. is particularly noticeable in Fig. 3 where it will be seen thatthe rearward force exerted on the tuftby the front knife during .the cutting operation is resisted by thehooks 33. Afterl the cutting knife 55 has started to move forwardly the rear knife 15 will move backward- 1y and when the cutting operation is completed the knives will again be in the position shown in Fig. 1. y

While I have described the mechanism located at .one side of the loom it is to be understood that the blocks 4I and 5I and the parts associated with them are duplicated on the opposite end and that the bars 41 and 54 slide along slots at each side of the loom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided cutting mechanism for 'an Axminster loom employing two knives the rear one of which vis held stationary during cutting operation and the forward one of which is moved to effect the cutting and passes under the rear knife so that any accumulation of lint released incidental to cutting falls on the front knife. Thereafter, as the front knife moves forwardly to its normal position, the lint will be carried with it and if dislodged will fall on the fabric and not on the teeth of the nose board or into the slots I9. By this operation the slots are kept free of lint and the reed dents and guide plates 21 operate without interference on the part of lint. It will also be seen that the upright hooks 33 on the teeth of the nose board extend upwardly along the rear strands S of the tufts being cut and support the latter during the cutting operation when the front knife is moving rearwardly.

' Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In pile tuft outing mechanism for an Axminster loom to weave a fabric connected at its y fell to rearwardly extending warp threads, a cloth board to support the fabric, spaced teeth extending rearwardly from the cloth board and having portions thereof located under the cloth and other portions projecting rearwardly behind the fell of the cloth, the loom operating with a tube frame from which project tuft forming `yarns incorporated into the fabric at the fell thereof and to be cut from the tube frame, hooks projecting upwardly from said teeth behind the' fell of the cloth and extending along and having supporting relation with respect to the tufts to be cut, a back knife located behind the tufts to be cut and having a front cutting edge, means to move the back knife forwardly and maintain the same stationary during the cutting operation with the cutting edge thereof closely adjacent to the rear portions of the tufts to be cut, a second knife in front of the tufts having a rear cutting edge, means to move the second knife rearwardly under the back knife while the latter is stationary to cause cooperation between the cutting edges to sever the tufts from the tube frame and move the cutting edge'of the front knife to a position behind the cutting edge of the back knife, said hooks supporting the tufts against a rearwardly directed force exerted by the front knife during the cutting operation, said second named means thereafter moving the front knife forwardly to a position in which the cutting edge thereof is in advance of the fell of the cloth to the end that lint collecting on the top of the front knife incidental to the cutting operation may fall o said front knife and be deposited on the fabric in locations in front of those portions of the teeth which project rearwardly behind the fell of the cloth.

2. In pile tuft cutting mechanism for an Axminster loom to weave a fabric connected at its fell to rearwardly extending warp threads, a cloth board to support the fabric, spaced teeth extending rearwardly from the cloth board and having portions thereof located under the cloth and other portions projecting rearwardly behind the fell of the cloth, the loom operating with a tube frame from which project tuft forming yarns incorporated into the fabric at the fell thereof and to be cut from the tube frame, hooks projecting upwardly from said teeth behind the fell of the cloth and extending along and having supporting relation with respect to the tufts to be cut, a back knife having a front cutting edge, means to move the back knife forwardly and then maintain said knife stationary during the cutting operation with the cutting edge thereof closely adjacent to the rear portions of the tufts and over said hooks, a front knife in front of.Y

said tufts having a rear cutting edge, means to move the front knife rearwardly under the stationary top knife to cause cooperation between the cutting edges of said knives to sever the tufts from the tube frame, said hooks supporting the tufts against a rearwardly directed force exerted by the front knife during the cutting operation, said second named means also operative to move the cutting edge of the front knife to a position behind the fell of the cloth to move lint falling on the top knife incidental to the cutting operation to be located on said front knife in advance of the cutting edge thereof, said second named means thereafter moving the front knife forwardly to a position in which the cutting edge thereof is in advance of the fell of the cloth whereby lint falling from the front knife when the latter is in forward position will be deposited on the fabric being woven in front of those portions of the teeth of the nose board which project rearwardly behind the fell of the cloth.

3. In tuft cutting mechanism for an Axminster loom weaving a fabric connected at its fell to rearwardly extending warp threads, the loom having a fabric supporting cloth board from which project rearwardly teeth extending behind the fell of the fabric and the loom also operating with a tube frame from which extend tuft yarns which project downwardly and rearwardly and then upwardly to form tufts to be cut from the yarns of the tube frame, a back cutting knife behind the tuft yarns having a front cutting edge, means to move the back knife forwardly and maintain the same stationary in a position with the cutting edge thereof closely adjacent to and behind the tuft yarns, upwardly projecting hooks formed on said teeth extending alongY and closely adjacent to the rear portions of the tufts under the cutting edge of the back knife when the latter is held stationary in cutting position by said means, a front knife in front of the tuft yarns having a rear cutting edge, and means tc move the front knife rearwardly under the stationary back knife to cause cooperation between said cutting edges to sever the tufts from the yarns of the tube frame and also move the cutting edge of the front knife to a position behind the cutting edge of the stationary back knife to force lint on the top of said front knife to a position in front of the cutting edge of said front knife, said upwardly projecting hooks supporting the rear portions of the tufts during backward motion of the front knife during the cutting operation, said second named means thereafter moving the front knife forwardly to a position with the cutting edge thereof in advance of the fell of the cloth, whereby lint falling from the top of the front knife when the latter is in forward position will be deposited on the fabric in front of those portions of the teeth of the cloth board which project behind the fell of the cloth.

4. In tuft cutting mechanism for an Axminster loomV weaving .a fabric Y connected at .its fell to rearwardly .extending warpvthreads, .the .loom having a fabric supporting cloth board from which project rearwardly teeth extending behind the `fell of Athe fabric andthe loom also operating with-a tube frame from which extend tuft yarns which project downwardly and rearwardly and then upwardly to form tufts to be cut from the yarns of the tube frame, upwardly projecting hooks on said teeth located behind the fell of the cloth, thefree ends of the tuft forming yarns projecting from the tube frames moving up the rear surfaces of said teeth and over said hooks to positions in front of the latter, said hooks thereafter extending upwardly along; the rear portions of said free'ends-of the tuft forming yarns to support said free` ends, a back knife having a front cutting edge, means to move the back knife forwardly and, maintain'the same in `stationary position with the cutting edge thereof behind and closely adjacent tothe tuft yarns and over said hooks, a front knife in front of said tuft yarns having a rear cutting edge, means to move the front knife rearwardly and under the stationary back knife to cause cooperation between the said cutting edges to sever the yarns projecting from the tube frame, said hooks supporting the tufts against a rearwardly directed force Aexerted by the front knife during the cutting operation, said second means operative to move the cutting edge of the front knife to a position behind the front edge of the back knife during the cutting operation `to move lint on the top of the lfront knife to a position in front of the cutting edge thereof, saidsecond named means thereafter movingthe front knife forwardly to a position in which the cutting edge of said front knife is in front of the fellof the cloth, whereupon lint falling from ythe front knife when the latter is in forward position is deposited on the fabric in front of those parts of the teeth of the cloth boardwhich project behind the fell of the cloth.

5. In tuft cutting'mechanism for an 'Axminster loom weaving )a fabric connected at its fell to rearwardlyextending -warp threads. 'the loom having a;fabric supporting cloth board from vwhich project rearwardly teeth extending'behind the fell of the fabric and the loom also operating with a tube frame from which extend tuft yarns which project downwardly and rearwardly and then upwardly to form tufts to be cut from the yarns of the tube frame, upwardly projecting hooks on said teeth located behind the fell of the cloth,- the free ends of the tuft forming yarns projecting from the tube frames moving upthe rear surfaces of said teeth and over said hooks to Ypositions Iin front of the latter, said hooks thereafter extending upwardly along the rear portions of said free ends of the tuft forming yarns, a back knife having a front cutting edge, means to move the back knife forwardly and maintain the'same in stationary cutting position with theA cutting edge thereof over said hooks, al front. knife in advance of the tuft yarns having a rear cutting edge, and means to move the front knife rearwardly to a position under the stationary back knife to cause cooperation between said cutting edges to sever the tufts from the yarns of the tube frame, said second named means effective also to move the cutting edge of the front knife to a positiony behind the cutting edge of the stationary back knife, said hooks extending along and supporting the rear free ends of the yarns projecting from the tube frame and tending to resist backward motion thereof during rearward motion of the front knife, said second named means thereafter moving the front knife forwardly to a normal position with the rear cutting edge thereof in advance of said hooks whereby any lint which accumulated on top of the front knife during the cutting operation may be deposited on the fabric in front of said hooks and those portions ofthe teeth of the cloth board which projectfbehind the fell of the fabric.

EDWARD J. DACEY. 

